A eficiência técnica dos colonos na agricultura irrigada no Vale do São Francisco

Abstract

This paper seeks to measure settlers' technical efficiency in irrigated cultures production in the Vale do São Francisco region and to investigate which factors can contribute to reduce inefficiency. The study is carried out in two stages. In the first, settlers' technical efficiency is measured by four models: two parametric - a frontier deterministic and a frontier stochastic and two non parametric -the DEA-V and the FDH models. The second stage has as its objective to explain the factors associates with technical inefficiency. The results indicated that settlers located in the Bebedouro, Mandacaru and Tourao projects were relatively more efficient than the others. Settlers inefficiency can be reduced by way of improving the educational level, increasing technicad assistance, augmenting the average size ofthe irrigated lots and training in irrigation systems.